Wednesday, March 17, 2010

An Irish Reverie

This is the library at Bellinter House in Navan, County Meath, Ireland. I snagged it from their website months ago after my friend Stephanie sent me a link to the hotel. "It looks like your kind of place," she said.

Does it ever.

I've imagined myself in this room so many times that I know every detail by heart. Can't you see me, just out of frame? I'm padding around in my stocking feet because my muddy boots have been sequestered on the boot rack in the massive hall. I was out investigating some nearby Celtic ruins but had to cut my ramble short because an ominous cloud appeared over the hills and I realized I had no umbrella. I sought refuge in the library and I'm so glad I did. Just look at the light coming in from that window. The sky has turned an unearthly gold that immediately precedes a heavenly downpour. How fabulous. We can spend the rest of the afternoon drinking copious cups of tea and investigating the bookshelves by candlelight. Isn't that an entire set of World of Interiors over in the corner?

World of interiors and cups of tea? Yes please (but really sounds like a typical saturday afternoon chez stefan!).I'm enjoying a cup of Barrys irish breakfast tea this morning with homemade shortbread I made last night for the office. Delicious!Blogger retreat at hotel Meath(bellinter house)- see, it even rhymes! Meant to be.

YES...a dreamy room to sit around in all day, sipping Irish Breakfast tea, munch on some scones with fresh blackberry jam and butter made from the milk of Jersey cows., Fresh Irish air off the Atlantic.Yes..and reading Yeats, I think?Do you think Farrow & Ball has a paint that approximates the color on the bookcases? I am sure they do...with some odd and evocative name.cheers, DIANEwww.thestylesaloniste.com

Happy St Patricks day Lisa, I know Bellinter House well, it is not too far from me. So I am definetely up for the bloggers retreat suggested by architectdesign, I could also suggest some fabulous ruins close by x

When tomorrow dawns how about I meet you all at Bellinteer and we shall drive to Dunsany Castle and spend the day on the grouns and read some of Lord Dunsany's work. Then afternoon I will take all of you to the Hill of Tara, we will have more tea in the teashop maybe Lions Green Label for a change (sorry Architect Design- I love Barry's too) and some homemade scones.Helen Tilston

I swear that paint color is Farrow and Ball French Gray. I've been obsessed with using it ever since I saw Michael Smith's Bel Air house -- he painted a dutch door that color.

Helen, I love that you live near Bellinter House. You can be our glamorous tour guide and help us all put the trip together. We'll probably have to rent out all 34 rooms, right? I mean, otherwise our raucous late-night laughter will undoubtedly have the other guests seeing red at 2am...and we wouldn't want that. I can see it now: days of exploring and shopping, and evenings of endless scintillating conversation made spicier by not-so-wee drams o' whisky and then we can all tell ghost stories a la "The Turn in the Screw" or "The Moonstone", etc. Everybody better start saving their pennies...!

Ah God!!! Now I wish I was irish (I have the red-ish hair and freckles, but the way with the words???? ) Makes living in sunny Sydney seem like a silly thing to do - beautiful room, beautiful books, and beautifully written about (see what I mean about the words??)

My dear, the Irish library does look very similar to your sweet home. All you need is a soft sunlight coming through your window projecting on your bookshelves and a couple of nuns walking about with a pint of beer in front of your house and then you can imagine yourself in Ireland ;)

Count me in!! I was always fascinated by old libraries and have to say that having a chance to explore a few I was never disappointed. Adding a rainy day in the countryside and a cup of tea make this an even better treat. I believe I could see the reflex of a fireplace… Am I right?

Lisa, my detective work is complete and I can inform you with authority that the colour is Farrow and Ball, Vert de Terre. A little brighter than the french gray but similar, so you were very close, particularly that you have seen it only through the computer screen. Impressive!